The
Chronicles
From discovering Bitcoin in 2016 to building the Human Layer. Every milestone, every pivot, every lesson, timestamped and unfiltered. This is how bonuz was built.
Enter the TimelineThe Journey
From a Bitcoin whitepaper to a protocol that connects the human world. Scroll through the chapters.
The Bitcoin Whitepaper Moment
Living in Dubai since 2007 as an entrepreneur, social media strategist, and growth hacker, Matthias Mende gets his hands on Bitcoin's whitepaper. Immediate conviction. The fundamentals of blockchain technology reframe everything. A deep dive begins that will reshape his entire career.
Chief Strategy Officer at Block Gemini
Matthias joins Block Gemini as Chief Strategy Officer, working closely with the CEO. Supply-chain blockchain, enterprise integrations, and a fast-growing Dubai engineering team. An apprenticeship that taught how to ship real Web3 to real industries. The lessons from this arc quietly shape everything bonuz becomes later.
Dubai Blockchain Center is Born
Co-founding the Dubai Blockchain Center, inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. A hub for blockchain thought leaders, developers, investors, and educators. Mende becomes personal advisor to its CEO from day one.
Best Blockchain Innovation in London
With Matthias as CSO, Block Gemini wins “Best Blockchain Innovation of the Year” at the CC-Forum in London. A 14-month-old, 140-person company delivers a groundbreaking supply-chain blockchain integration. First international validation.
The bonuz Idea Crystallizes
Years of watching creators struggle with identity theft, zero audience ownership, and platform dependency converge into one thesis: every human's influence has value. bonuz begins as a celebrity and brand token launchpad. The seed of something much bigger. Read the early Khaleej Times feature →
Seed Round Sells Out in 4 Hours
First mission accomplished. 1% of the Private Community Seed Round sold out within 4 hours at a $25M valuation. No ads, no paid promotion. Mende's own community made the first move.
The Race Period
A blur of critical decisions. Company formation. Token strategy. Advisory board assembly. Saygin Yalcin, Simplex CEO Ari Last, and Rich Stromback (Davos) join as advisors. Partnerships with Dubai Blockchain Center, Blockpass, and Hacken lock in. Every day a new fork in the road.
Bonuz Inc. is Officially Founded
The idea is now a company. The initial vision: a celebrity and brand token launchpad. MVP development accelerates. App design demos circulate. What nobody knew yet: the entire crypto UX landscape would need to be rebuilt before any of this could work at scale.
Deep Research & the UX Reality Check
Months of deep market research and product exploration begin. The brutal truth surfaces: crypto UX is fundamentally broken. Wallets are confusing, onboarding is hostile, and mainstream users have no entry point. The original token launchpad vision is sound, but the infrastructure to support it doesn't exist yet. These findings will seed every pivot that follows.
bonuz is created for every human because every human has an influence and therefore is of value to any brand, firm, or community. Having just one follower is enough.
Matthias Mende, Founder
Dubai Blockchain Center: Ecosystem Contribution Documented
A multi-page document compiles the tangible value Matthias has delivered to the Dubai Web3 ecosystem via Dubai Blockchain Center. Events organized, founders introduced, delegations received, policy input given. Less a vanity piece than a receipt for years of unpaid ecosystem work. Read the full contribution document →
Bonuz Technology DMCC, Dubai HQ
Bonuz Technology DMCC (DMCC191690) registered at the world's leading free zone. Dual-entity structure: DMCC for app and product, Bonuz Inc. for protocol and token. Dubai isn't just home. It's the strategic launchpad.
Solana Hacker House at the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa
bonuz participates in the Solana Hacker House Dubai, hosted at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa. Builders, developers, and ecosystem leaders under one roof. A deep immersion into the Solana ecosystem and a signal that bonuz is showing up wherever builders gather.
Gulf News Web3 Awards: Best Upcoming Blockchain Innovation
At the Grand Hyatt Dubai, Gulf News presents the “Best Upcoming Blockchain Innovation” award. The first major media recognition. bonuz is on the radar of the UAE's largest English-language publication.
“Best Web3 Ecosystem” at the Museum of the Future
MetaDecrypt WEB 3.0 Summit, hosted at the Museum of the Future, Dubai. bonuz wins “Best Web3 Ecosystem.” Mende recognized alongside blockchain pioneers like Dr. Marwan Alzarouni. The venue alone says everything about where this industry is headed.
Best NFT & GameFi Project at Abu Dhabi Finance Week
The Middle East Blockchain Awards during Abu Dhabi Finance Week. bonuz wins “Best NFT & GameFi Project 2022.” Three major industry awards in five months. The ecosystem takes notice.
The Evolution: Beyond Celebrity Tokens
bonuz expands into loyalty, NFT solutions, and social engagement infrastructure. The vision sharpens: this isn't about fan tokens. It's about building the connective tissue between every human and every brand. A Human Layer. Read the NFTIST magazine interview on Binance Square →
NEAR Foundation Ecosystem Grant
NEAR Foundation awards bonuz an ecosystem grant for protocol development. The first institutional backing from a major L1 ecosystem. Runway extends, the builder network deepens.
Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni Joins as Advisor & Investor
Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni joins the bonuz board of advisors and backs the round as an investor. CEO of the Dubai Blockchain Center and CEO of AI at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. One of the most influential voices in the UAE's Web3 and AI agenda. Deep alignment with Dubai's digital economy strategy from the inside.
Google Cloud Web3 Program, $250K
Google Cloud's Web3 Startup Program selects bonuz. $250,000 in cloud credits plus technical guidance and go-to-market support. The infrastructure backing gets serious. Enterprise-grade cloud from day one.
Pinoy Web3 TV Long-Form Interview
Matthias Mende sits down with Pinoy Web3 TV for a long-form conversation on where bonuz is heading. The creator economy, identity, and the UAE's emerging role as a Web3 hub. Reach into the Southeast Asia audience deepens. Watch the interview →
Biconomy Grant for the ERC-4337 Upgrade
Biconomy awards bonuz a grant dedicated to the ERC-4337 upgrade. The infrastructure layer that makes gas sponsored on bonuz core actions feel seamless for the next wave of users.
India Blockchain Week: Best Real-World Gamification
India Blockchain Week awards bonuz “Best Real-World Gamification Project 2023.” International reach beyond the Middle East. The gamification thesis resonates across markets.
Social Smart Wallet Unveiled at Cypher Capital Hub
Private event at Cypher Capital Hub, Dubai. Executives from Binance, OKX, Bitpanda, CoinDesk, and Web3 TV witness the first live demo. The reaction: this feels like Web2.
Our wallet is so smart that users don't have to be.
Matthias Mende, bonuz App Launch
1-on-1 with Vitalik Buterin at EthCC Brussels
Outside an EthCC side event, Matthias Mende and Vitalik Buterin sit down for an extended 1-on-1 conversation. Buterin's reaction: “the most complete Web3 product I've seen.” A rare signal from Ethereum's founder. Validation at the level that matters most.
Hacken Audit: Perfect 10/10
bonuz smart contracts pass Hacken's strict security audit, scoring a perfect 10/10. Scope covers the engagement protocol, ID protocol, state machines, permissions, and anti-fraud protections. BonuzDynamicNft V2 is deployed on Base mainnet. View the full audit report →
App Store + Google Play: Approved
Navigating Apple's Guideline 2.1 by explaining non-custodial architecture and third-party swap aggregation via LI.FI and 1inch. Both stores approve. The app's purpose-driven nature clears every regulatory hurdle.
bonuz App Goes Live, Founder Turns 40
Official launch at Fish Hut, Dubai. The world's first real-world gamification quest conducted on-chain. Attendees check in, complete quests, receive soulbound Proof of Participation NFTs. KOLs, exchange executives, crypto media, all present. Web3 TV broadcasts live. ITP Live covers the launch event →
Mainnet Live on Base
Base chain. Hacken 10/10. MPC/TSS security. AI readiness. Backed by Google Cloud, NEAR, Biconomy, DMCC Crypto, Cypher Capital, and Crypto Oasis. Self-custodial wallet with social login. Gas sponsored on bonuz core actions. Users never see the blockchain.
Binance “Creator of the Year”
Binance Blockchain Week, Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai. Co-founder He Yi and CMO Rachel Conlan present the award, voted by 238 million Binance users. Two weeks after app launch. Builder and creator identity become one.
Binance Square Creator of the Year
Binance Square recognizes Matthias Mende as Creator of the Year. Distinct from the Binance Blockchain Week award earlier in the year. This one is voted by the Square community for sustained content and contribution across 2024.
The Ecosystem Multiplies
Habibi Pass. setupz. bonuz Academy. REALMS. humz.my. stakz. UAE971. Every product on the same protocol rails. 450+ pages across roughly 50 languages. bonuz ID can aggregate up to 11 billion social accounts. The Human Layer is architecture, not a pitch.
Satoshi Roundtable: “How to Gamify the Real World”
Matthias Mende hosts a private session at the Satoshi Roundtable on “How to Gamify the Real World.” The invite-only, off-record format is where Web3's most senior builders and capital stress-test each other's theses. First direct signal that the Human Layer frame resonates with the OGs.
Consensus Hong Kong: Best Upcoming Project
KOL Capital at Consensus Hong Kong selects bonuz as “Best Upcoming Project.” The first major Asia-Pacific recognition. From Dubai to Hong Kong, the global narrative is forming.
Token2049 Dubai: Middle East KOL of the Year
During Token2049 Dubai week, Matthias Mende is named “Middle East KOL of the Year.” A personal award, but one that reinforces the founder's standing in the region bonuz calls home.
Corporate Member of Crypto Oasis
bonuz joins Crypto Oasis as a corporate member, plugging directly into the largest blockchain ecosystem network in the Middle East. Closer alignment with regional builders, investors, and policy voices. Crypto Oasis announcement →
bonuz SDK Live in Production
The bonuz SDK ships and gets integrated into production apps: onchainchess.com, bonuz.id, uae971.social, and app.bonuz.xyz all running on the same login, identity, and engagement rails. Proof that the Human Layer is infrastructure, not just a product.
Founder Speaks at EthCC 08
Matthias Mende takes the EthCC stage to talk through the Human Layer thesis: identity, intention, and engagement as measurable outcomes. A room full of builders, researchers, and protocol leads. Watch the full talk →
Burning Man x Camp Decentral Partnership
bonuz partners with Camp Decentral to power quests during the speaker sessions at Burning Man. Real-world gamification at the most radical off-grid gathering on Earth. Proof that the Human Layer works anywhere humans gather.
“The Human Layer” Crystallizes
After years of describing bonuz as identity plus loyalty plus wallet plus SDK plus gamification, one frame finally ties it all together: the Human Layer. Not a wallet. Not a loyalty platform. Not a Web3 app. Those are product expressions of a category. From here on, every page, pitch, and product decision starts from this frame. HackerNoon goes deep on the thesis →
Binance Industry Advocate of the Year 2025
Binance names Matthias Mende Industry Advocate of the Year 2025. A personal award, but a lens the industry uses to read bonuz: not just building a product, building a movement. TheBlockopedia covers the next-phase vision →
IGNYTE by DIFC: Dubai Digital Economy Mandate
Accepted into IGNYTE, the flagship innovation program under the Dubai Digital Economy Mandate, curated by DIFC. A limited selection of high-potential Web3 and fintech ventures receive acceleration, regulatory guidance, and direct institutional access within the UAE's financial ecosystem. This is formal recognition by Dubai's regulatory and financial leadership. A level of validation beyond any industry award or private investment. Cointelegraph on the UAE's layered digital-asset strategy →
Dubai Founders HQ, Dubai Economy and Tourism
Accepted into Dubai Founders HQ, the official startup platform by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Government-backed institutional support, ecosystem access, and visibility within Dubai's national economic development strategy. Together with IGNYTE, bonuz now sits inside the UAE's core innovation infrastructure at a governmental level.
Whitepaper v2 Rewritten Around the Human Layer
The bonuz whitepaper gets a full rewrite around the Human Layer frame. Protocol mechanics, entity split, engagement rails, identity primitives, and token design all restated in one document. Source of truth for partners, auditors, and long-form press. Read the whitepaper →
Microsoft Azure $100K Grant
$100,000 in Azure cloud credits from Microsoft's Startup Program. Enterprise-grade cloud joins the stack. Google Cloud, NEAR, Biconomy, and now Microsoft all backing the Human Layer.
Founder Speaks at SiGMA AIBC Conference
Matthias Mende takes the SiGMA AIBC stage to walk through the Human Layer, how identity, intention, and engagement stop being slogans and become infrastructure. Watch the full talk →
Satoshi Roundtable: “How to Onboard the 99.1%”
A year after gamifying the real world, Mende hosts another private session at the Satoshi Roundtable on “How to Onboard the 99.1%.” The frame has sharpened: stop designing for the 0.9% already on-chain; design for everyone else. The Human Layer as distribution engine.
4,000 Users. 4.8 Stars. Multi-Chain Live.
Real humans. Real connections. 4.8/5.0 app rating. Multi-chain: Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum + EVM networks. The question shifts from “can this work?” to “how fast can it grow?”
bonuz Events Vertical Goes Live
A dedicated events surface launches at app.bonuz.xyz. Quests, passes, and memberships tuned for live gatherings. The real-world gamification thesis becomes its own product lane.
Major Mobile App UX/UI Update
A full visual and flow refresh rolls out across iOS and Android. Faster onboarding, clearer navigation, and a tighter expression of the Digital Cosmos identity. The app matches the ambition of the protocol underneath.
MegaETH Live, 44+ EVM Chains Supported
MegaETH joins the supported network set. Combined with the prior Base, Solana, Bitcoin, Berachain, Blast, Moda, Linea and others, bonuz now runs across 44+ chains out of the box. Chain-agnostic by design.
Founder Speaks at EthCC 09
A return to the EthCC stage, one year deeper into the Human Layer thesis, now with production data from multiple integrations and governmental backing from Dubai. Watch the full talk →
Bruce Fenton Joins as Advisor
Bitcoin OG Bruce Fenton joins the bonuz advisory board. A long-time freedom supporter, hyper industry advocate, and uncompromising voice for self-custody. Decades of depth across Bitcoin, capital markets, and governance. Exactly the voice the Human Layer needs as it scales beyond early adopters.
Silver Sponsor at World Token Summit / The Block Festival
bonuz steps up as Silver Sponsor at the World Token Summit / The Block Festival, one of the year's headline Web3 gatherings. A direct signal that the Human Layer is no longer the underdog story. It's a category sponsor.
bonuz Joins The Block as Member
bonuz becomes a member of The Block, gaining access to institutional research, deal flow, and premium coverage from one of crypto's most-respected media and intelligence platforms. Closer alignment with the institutional side of the industry. the-block.com →
Chapter Next: You're Watching It Happen
AR integrations. AI skill layers. Social Oracle evolving into a real-world operating system. Plans to open-source the protocols so the entire planet can build on the Human Layer. Every entry from here gets written in real time. The story is accelerating.
bonuz evolves into a real-world operating system, integrating AR, GPS, and infinite layers for blended digital-physical experiences.
bonuz Whitepaper, Future Vision
The Story Continues
New chronicle entries drop as they happen. Be part of the journey.